From Dimensionalizing to Theory Development in Grounded Theory Methodology: A Case Example from Disability Studies
Dimensionalizing has been discussed in the Grounded Theory Methodology (GTM) literature primarily as a component that informs the later stages of GTM .
- Pub. date: May 15, 2025
- Online Pub. date: April 10, 2025
- Pages: 143-158
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Abstract:
Dimensionalizing has been discussed in the Grounded Theory Methodology (GTM) literature primarily as a component that informs the later stages of GTM coding (Strauss) or as a property and variety of human thinking (Schatzman). In this context, dimensional analysis is understood as an approach to concept formation, focusing on identifying the properties and empirical instances of a concept. Through this process, the scope conditions of a theory are clarified and explicitly defined. However, this perspective often overlooks how dimensionalizing contributes not only to concept formation but also to theory building. Specifically, the transition from dimensional analysis to theory development is seldom articulated. This article addresses this gap by using interview data from the substantive field of disability studies — specifically, parents raising a person with a disability (PwD). We demonstrate how dimensional analysis can be effectively applied at the conclusion of open coding, rather than solely at the final stages of GTM analysis, and how it can serve as a methodological tool for connecting categories, rather than for identifying the core category.
Keywords: Connecting categories, dimensionalizing, grounded theory, theoretical coding.
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References
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